March
activities, program offer something for everyone
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by Nisa Islam Muhammad
and Eric Ture Muhammad
WASHINGTON (FinalCall.com)�Plans continue to
unfold for activities for families who make their way to the nation�s
capitol October 16, to join the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in
his call for the revitalization of the institution.
The Million Family March (MFM) organizers are working
at a feverish pace to provide for husbands, wives, newlyweds, children
and elders. They believe it could be the largest, peaceful assembly ever
to gather in U.S. history to promote change.
Beginning with MFM Scholar�s Symposium on Family
(Oct. 11-13) at Howard University, presenters and experts on family and
values from around the country will discuss a variety of issues such as,
male-female relations, health, spiritual values, violence and
empowerment of children.
The symposium, beginning at 8:30 a.m., will open with
a welcome from Min. Farrakhan.
"We have an exciting event planned that will
address the major issues facing our community and our speakers represent
our best minds," said symposium co-chair Dr. Robert Hill. "Our
theme is to empower families to overcome the challenges," he said.
Additional presenters and keynoters include Dr. Asa
Hilliard, Dr. Francis Cress-Welsing, Iris Carlton-LaNay; Gary Mendez of
the National Trust and Development of African American Men; Dorothy
Benton Lewis, co-chair of the National Coalition of Blacks for
Reparations (N�COBRA); Ron Walters, political science chair at the
University of Maryland; Tricia Bent-Goodley of Howard University and Gus
Smith, father of Kemba Smith, who due to the disparity in crack cocaine
sentencing laws is serving 25 years to life in federal prison.
"We are honored to be asked by the Hon. Min.
Farrakhan and Min. Benjamin F. Muhammad to help convene this most
important conference of scholars on the Black family," said
symposium co-chair Leonard Dunston. Mr. Dunston, along with Drs. Nancy
Boyd-Franklin and Robert Hill have gathered some of the greatest minds
in America for the conference, with the hope of producing a
user-friendly booklet to be distributed at the march.
"Min. Farrakhan is a visionary in that he seeks
to bring to the family table some of the best minds in respect to
accentuating and highlighting the strengths of the Black family,"
Mr. Dunston concluded.
Other weekend events include:
� Friday, Oct. 13: Citywide Jummah Prayer Service.
� Saturday, Oct. 14: Interfaith Prayer Breakfast at
the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 8 a.m.
� Saturday, Oct. 14: Political leaders from around
the country will conduct a Political Issues and Public Policy Caucus at
the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 1-3 p.m.
� Saturday, Oct. 14: Black tie "Celebration of
Family Gala." It begins at 7 p.m. with a reception followed at 8
p.m. with a dinner featuring celebrity entertainment at the Marriott
Wardman Park Hotel. Tickets are $100, $250 and $500 each.
� Sunday, Oct: 15: "Million Family March
Sunday," religious leaders are asked to use their pulpits to call
for God-centered families.
March day activities
The Mall will be covered with 14 jumbo-sized
television screens and the largest sound system built in the history of
the country. The sound system, according to march organizers, is so
strong that it will produce sound for an approximate two-mile radius.
"If your cell phone is not digital it will not work on the property
that day," said Min. Benjamin. "This is because the magnitude
of the sound system produces its own magnetic field, knocking out analog
systems," he said.
The jumbo screens will connect participants with the
events on Stage One at the U.S. Capitol Building, Stage Two at the
Lincoln Memorial and Stage Three at the Ellipse near the White House.
The "MFM Marketplace" of vendors will open
from 6 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Oct. 16 program will start with a 5 a.m. call to
prayer. From 6 a.m.-10 a.m., pre-program events will take place on three
stages. At 10 a.m. the official program begins. The noon hour will
feature the Sacred Marriage Ceremony of 10,000 new couples and the
renewal of vows of married couples. Min. Farrakhan will conduct the
ceremony.
Couples who still wish to register to be a part of
the sacred ceremony should call (202) 291-1119, or register Oct. 16 on
the Mall.
The day�s entertainment will feature such artists
as Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, James Ingram, Stevie
Wonder, Toni Braxton, Rev. Run of Run DMC, Macy Gray and more.
Children�s Village
At the Washington Monument a village will be erected
with young people in mind. The village is being coordinated by Maria
Farrakhan Muhammad, Martha Chavis-Muhammad, Rose Sanders and Barbara
Newton, executive director of Jack and Jill.
"We are planning something very spectacular for
the children. We want them to enjoy the MFM as well as the adults.
Children are an important part of the family and we want them recognized
as well with activities of their own," said Mrs. Muhammad. The
Children�s Village is open from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Activities include the UniverSoul Circus, jumping
pavilions, games, clowns, balloon blowing,
face painting, story telling, and Internet technology.
"A special part of the day will be our mock
voting booth where children can practice taking their parents to the
polls to vote. We are very excited about this," explained Mrs.
Newton.
For more information about the Million Family March
visit the official web site at http://www.millionfamilymarch.com or call
202-291-1119. |